By Edith Igbokwe
The community of Obawole in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government has finally got a public primary school after long years of agitation for a public school.
The community was plagued with non-existence of a single government-owned primary school, making it difficult for the residents to enjoy or have access to free education.
Due to the challenge, most of the residents are forced to enroll their children in private schools with exorbitant fees which become unbearable to finance the education of their children over the time.
However, their lost hope was rekindled when Obawole Primary School became a dream come true for the residents, which was facilitated by the member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. James Owolabi.
The school contains one block of 12 classrooms, two extended administrative offices, Sports Arena/Open Space and Toilets to start with, looking forward to its extension sooner.
The community extends to Olowo-Onibata area with over 35 Community Development Associations (CDAs) and huge population depending on the new primary school for the educational need of their children in the community.
The chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Prince Usman Hamzat, the member, representing the constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. James Owolabi as well as the member representing the constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Adedeji visited the new school last week to confirm the quality of the project.
They assessed its development level and the readiness for official commissioning soon.
Owolabi assured the people of his continuous impacts even after leaving office, saying he has made enough connections to take Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency forward.
He promised that the school will be properly handed over to the Local Government after official commissioning in couple of weeks.
After officially commissioned, the Obawole Primary School will be the first Government-Owned Primary School located in Ndike Area of Obawole, Ifako-Ijaiye.
Hamzat appreciated the residents of Obawole community for donating the landed property that made the project a reality.
He also applauded the efforts put in by Rep Owolabi towards facilitating such an educational edifice for humanity, especially in Obawole community.
On his own, Adedeji commended Owolabi, describing him as the best MHRs for his impressive impacts in the area of infrastructural development of which Obawole community is a beneficiary.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye LG, Deacon Banjo Omole commended the lawmaker for his “unrivalled track records and unalloyed passion for development” as he prayed for divine guidance in all his endeavours.
Also speaking, Ifako-Ijaiye CDC Chairman, Pastor Samuel Opajobi gave kudos to Owolabi for his giant strides and for birthing the long awaited school in Obawole.
He assured him of good maintenance while also appealing for employment opportunities for the unemployed educated youths in the local government area with cognate qualifications to be given employment opportunity to work in the school as teachers to reduce the rate of unemployment in the local government.
He expressed the gratitude of the entire Obawole and Olowo-Onibata communities, saying they remained indebted to the lawmaker for his laudable gesture and have his name engraved on the hearts of the people.